Scots' Men's Lacrosse Building on What They Started
Monmouth, IL (02/05/2020) — Now in its fourth season, and the third under head coach Chris Klaiber, the Monmouth College men's lacrosse team is ready to take the next step in their building process with their largest roster to date, which includes defenders from a nationally-ranked unit and the top scorers from each of the first three seasons.
"Each year we lay building blocks and I feel that we're on a solid foundation," said Klaiber, whose team won four of their last six games a season ago. "We had a great recruiting class with some guys who can fill roles and some who could be breakout players. I'm really excited to see our veterans and newcomers take the field as a complete unit."
Klaiber will have a multi-headed monster on the attack where veterans Thomas Van Alstine (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) and Jeff Knapp (Nolensville, Tenn./Ravenwood) are reunited with Chase Cranford (Grayslake, Ill./Mundelein Consolidated) after Van Asltine took last season off for a study abroad assignment and Knapp was lost to an injury after just three games. That's not to mention Shane Herkert (Verona, Wis./Verona) - a senior who is dangerous on both ends of the field and scored a career-high 11 goals last season.
A two-sport student-athlete who plays soccer in the fall, Cranford claimed the offensive trifecta last season, setting the records in each category while leading the team in goals (31), assists (22) and points (53). He also set the Scots' single-game records in all three categories. Van Alstine and Knapp tied for the team lead with 28 goals in 2018 - a program record at the time.
"I'm really excited to see Chase, Thomas and Jeff together for the first time in two years," said Klaiber. "Between those three guys and Shane, we'll have three seniors up front and that's always a good thing to have that maturity."
Although Knapp and Van Alstine missed essentially all of last season, Klaiber doesn't expect any deterioration in their skills, strength or desire. Last season may have even enhanced their drive.
"They've both worked hard and are extremely hungry," reported Klaiber. "Thomas hasn't scored in a year and he's anxious to find the cage. Losing Jeff last year and watching his pain physically and emotionally was devastating for me. Chase is coming off a very good soccer campaign and brings that success with him. The bar has been raised this year for everyone."
Raising the bar also resulted in a new look for the offense. Klaiber's 28-player roster - the largest in program history - includes eight freshmen and all have made a nice transition as the Scots prepare for their 17-game schedule, also the most games in the four-year history of the program.
"It's a whole new setup for the offense," reported Klaiber. "The guys are picking it up quickly and I expect our production to improve."
Fans should expect to see not only a new offense, but some new faces on the attacking end of the field.
Kane Donohoo (St. Charles, Ill./North) and Michael Casey (Chicago, Ill./Taft) are just two of the newcomers giving Klaiber optimism for an increase in their 8.1 goals per game average from a season ago.
Much like the offense, the Scots have seasoned veterans on the defensive end. Joining Herkert and his team-best 30 caused turnovers last season are Ian Moles (Elmhurst, Ill./York) and Connor Armstrong (Star, Idaho/Eagle). The trio formed the foundation of a defense ranked 17th nationally last spring with 131 caused turnovers and 29th in goals against average (8.5).
"Those three guys have been absolute rocks for us," praised Klaiber. "For the first three years, they've started almost every game together. We really built our defense around them last year. As seniors, this is it for them and I expect them to come out and play with the hunger of a senior."
A pair of newcomers - long stick midfielders Ryan Giroux (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) and 6-foot-2, 225-pound James Nowicki (Westchester, Ill./Nazareth Academy) - figure to be solid additions to the senior mix on defense.
With veterans at every position, Klaiber will look for 6-3, 200-pound "mature rookie" Teagan Simons (Littleton, Colo./Columbine) to fill the cage as his goalkeeper.
"I've been very excited to see him in a Scots uniform since the day he committed," smiled Klaiber when talking about the freshman. "He's got great reactions and plays with a really fun style. I think fans are going to love watching him play."
It all starts with the faceoff, where Eli Goichenberg (Walnut, Calif./Walnut) - one of eight seniors on the squad - returns after winning a program-record 144 faceoffs last season. He could see a challenge from wide-bodied freshman Gordon Keisgen (Spring Grove, Ill./Grant) - a 6-2, 255-pound midfielder.
"Eli has done great at the faceoff position, but we'd like to get even better," said Klaiber after his team won just under half their faceoffs in 2019. "Gordon is larger than most faceoff men and we're excited to see what he can do with his size at that position."
Klaiber expects no limit to his team's success, if the Scots can continue their steady improvement. The team logged a program-best seven wins last season, more than doubling the total from the year before, and they did it without Knapp and Van Alstine, two of the top three scorers in program history.
"I think we have a special blend of new guys with players from the inaugural team," suggested Klaiber. "Our new guys are adjusting from 'boys' lacrosse to 'men's' lacrosse. Everything is bigger and faster in the college game, but they're doing a good job with conditioning and preparing for a long, grueling season."
That season begins Feb. 11 when the Scots host Augustana. It will be Klaiber's first look at his newcomers in a live game setting.
"The key to our season will be how we handle success and failure," predicted Klaiber. "It's a big league with 13 teams and an equally long season. We're playing more games than we've ever had. We can't get too high on the wins or too low on the losses. My first two years, we've been able to grind out wins with a very workmanlike mentality. We want to continue that mindset now that we have the largest roster and deepest talent pool we've ever had. I think if our veterans can help guide our rookies through the rigors of college lacrosse, we'll have a very successful season."
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